Swivel pipe coupling



y 1939- M. P. LAURENT I SWIVEL PIPE COUPLING Filed April 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Shegfl Hi HIOn R L aurent M. P LAURENT SWIVEL PIPE COUPLING May 16, 1939.

Filed April 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Milton P. Laurent.

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT. orrlcr.

SWIVEL PIPE COUPLING I Milton P. Laurent, Houston, Tex.

'7 Claims. (or. 285-91) This invention relates to a pipe coupling. The specific embodiment of this invention as illustrated in this applicationrelates to a flexible pipe coupling whereby two sections of pipe may be coupled together in such a manner that they may be moved pivotally with respect to each other without leakage through the joint.

Various types of swivel couplings have been developed in the past, but great difficulty has at all times been experienced in providing a swivel type coupling member or in fact any type coupling member having relatively movable parts, which coupling member would form a satisfactory seal between the relatively movable parts.

It is an object of this coupling member for two sections of pipe wherein a satisfactory seal between the parts may be produced, and wherein the relative movement of the parts will not only not impair the seal, but such relative movement of the parts will actually be facilitated by the arrangement of the various parts. Specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a flexible or swivel joint with suitable sealing device from the joints, and which will facilitate relative movement of the parts.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fluid sealed joint.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a joint of the type set forth with fluid actuated sealing means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a joint of the type set forth with sealing means adjustable for various working pressures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a joint of the ball and socket type having sealing rings for forming a seal between the ball and socket members wherein pressure against such sealing rings will force the same into tighter engagement with the surface of the ball member.

It is a further specific object to provide such a joint with means for preventing damage to the packing thereof in the event that thejoint is not properly cared for.

It is a further object to provide a fluid sealed joint which will not be entirely dependent upon the fluid seal for its sealing action.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following descrip- 50 tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood thatthe disclosure therein is by way of example and illustration only and not by way of limitation. This invention is to be limited only by the prior art and by the 55 terms of the appended claims.

invention to provide a which will prevent leakage Referring now to Application April 30, 1931, Serial No. 139,858

the drawings in which numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout Fig- 1 is aside view with parts being broken away and shown in section illustrating one embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

the joint shown in Fig. 3 is a segmental view of the spacer element forming a part of the joint shown in Fig. 1. 10

Fig. 4is an end view of the joint shown in Fig.

1 looking from the left end thereof and showing the parts of the joint as they are being coupled together.

Fig. 5 is a view elevation showing partly in section and partly in 15 the clamping ring or nut forming a part of this joint;

Fig. 6 is a partially portion of the socket the joint shown sectional view of the lower member forming a part of in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 1, illustrating a media fled form of spacing rings.

numerals i and nected to the end of the ball member 3 element for the packing to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen illustrated by the 2, respectively. Threadedly consection of pipe i is the formed with the substantially spherical or ball shaped part 4. Similarly joined to the other section of pipe 2 is a socket member 5 having a portion 6 adjacent the end of the pipe 2 which is of substantially spherical contour so as-to accommodate the spherical part i of. the

ball member 3.

35 This socket member embraces a.

portion l of enlarged internal diameter joined to the portion 6 by a shoulder}. The portion 1 is divided into two cylindrical parts by means of an annular channel 9, the

presently be set purpose of which will 40 forth.

On the exterior of the socket member there are formed a plurality of lugs I, each lug having a cam or inclined the socket member upon one formed a laterally extending lug its outer end to of which a bolt I5 is provided for is employed to tighten the parts of the joint toface ll.' Also on the exterior of side thereof is l2 bifurcated at receive a pivot pin l3 by means It is mounted therein. A nut the free end of this bolt which gether and to secure them in that position.

For the purpose of facilitating the attachment andremoval of this joint, it is which are three the ball and socket members of contemplated that two portions dedly engaged with the pipe secface of thering 2|,is

' When the ring has been 70ber ever,

tions and 2 may be formed with grooves l4 and I! or similar uneven formations.

Within the interior of the pocket member before it is placed upon the ball section of the joint, there is inserted 8 a bearing ring l8 which is adapted to receive and form an abutment for a packing ring I O of. somewhat trapezoidal cross-section. The ball member 3 is then inserted into the socket and the packing ring 20 which is similar to the packing ring is is placed within the socket in the opposite side of the ball memberv in opposing relation to the ring IS. A single bearing ring or thrust ring 2| is positioned against the outside end of the packing ring 20 and a suitable spacer member or ring 22 is interposed between the two packing rings. This spacing ring 22 is preferably of the form illustrated in Fig. 3, and is provided with openings 23 therethrough so that it in eflect forms simply a skeleton spacer.

,For the purpose of holding the thrust ring 2| in position against the packing ring 20 there is provided a locking'ring 24 having an inturned abutting edge 26 bearing against the outer surface of the ring 2|. It is to be noted that this abutting edge, together with the cooperating surnot a radial surface but is disposed in such a manner that the parts will most firmly seat against each other.

This ring 24 fits over the end portion of the shown at 26, and has inwardly directed lugs 21 with inclined faces 28 adapted to cooperate with the lugs lland the inclined faces thereon so that when the ring 24 is rotated with respect to the socket the lugs 2lwillrideuponthelugs Ilandwillfomethe thrust ring 2| toward the interior of thesocket. Through the medium of the spacing ring 22 this will cause an initial compression of both of the socket member 5 as and seated against the shoulder p g rin s l8 and 20 so thatthey will form an initial seal with the adjacent surface of the ball and socket members, respectively. This compression, due to the inclination of the inner walls of the rings l8 and 2| with respect to radial lines, causes the packing rings to be wedged radially inwardly against the ball to form a more perfect seal. It is to be noted at this point, howthat the rings l8 and"2| willcome into contact the packing rings I! and 20 have'been unduly compressed, and thus prevent any further compression of or damage to these rings by. action of the nut 24. Rings II and 2| are of a soft yet strong metal which will form a positive bearing surface against the surface 4 but will not scratch or mar said surface. or cause it to subsequently damage the packing'rings |9Tand 20.

The ring or nut 24 is also provided with 9. lug 20 having an opening therein adapted to receive the bolt M in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. placed in position and rotated so as to holdthe ball and socket members together, the nut l8 upon the bolt l4 may be tightened so as to make this connection firm and tight, and prevent reverse rotation of the ring 24. At the lower side of the socket member as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 there is formed a boss 30 drilled out to provide a bore 3| communicating with .the channel 8 inside thesocket mem- The outer end of the bore ii is threaded as shown at 32 to receive'a grease fitting 33. so that grease under pressure may be forced into the channel 9 and the space between the packing 7B In actual practice, the joint wm nm be as;

with the surface 4 of the ball member before that there is at other hand, the packing rings cannot be slightly greater than the sembied as just described, and then grease under heavy pressure will be forced into the space between the packing rings is and 20, thus still a flrmer'seal against the adjacent sur-- nected may be moved the more freely with respect to the section 2 which carries the socket member. This means not only that the two sections of pipe may be moved with respect to each other, relatively freely and without substantial damage to the packing rings, but it also means an times within the joint member a quantity serves to firmly seal both of the packing rings against the adjacent surface of both of the joint members. This positively prevents the objectionable leakage which this invention is designed to overcome. If, however, through neglect or ignorance of some person having charge of the maintenance of such joints, or for s'on the lubricant within the space between the sealing rings becomes depleted, the sealing rings any other rea-- will not be unduly damaged because of the fact 'be prevented from actuating the sealing rings toward the center of the space within are mounted and causing them to be permanently distorted and damaged beyond use. .On the injured by mechanical tightening of the joint'because before the packing rings can be forced tight enough to be damaged, the bearing ther compression of the packing rings.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a; modified form of spacer for the packing rings in the form of a coil spring 22'. The end convolutions of this spring are so formed that they will have substantially toward the other will completely compress the rings will come into contact with the ball and prevent fu.r'

within. or without which they spring and it will thereafter positively prevent I any further movement of the rings toward each other.

It is within the purview of this invention that the pressure of the grease within the annular chamber between the packing rings shall be pressure within the pipe line so that any leakage which does take place past the packing ring I! will take place in a direction toward the interior of the pipe line rather than away'from such interior. This is not, however, a hard and fast rule, because under certain circumstances the influx of even asmall amount of course, be regulated of such grease might prove harmful to the contents of the pipe, and under these circumstances the pressure within the annular chamber would, in accordance with the conditions prevailing.

It is further contemplated that the fluid iniected into the joint might be of such a nature as to harden and form a substantially solid filler body between the packing rings and upon the ad- 10 iacent surfaces of the packing rings and ball upon the application of heat.

By the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been set forth a device capable of carrying out all the objects and advantages sought by this inven- 15 tion. It is to be understood that various changes may betmade within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a coupling for pipes, an internal ball member on one pipe and an external socket member on the other pipe and surrounding said ball memher; a pair of rigid rings and a pair of distortable packing rings, all of an internal diameter less than the external diameter of said ball member, said packing rings being disposed between said rigid rings, and contacting said ball on opposite sides of a great circle, said rigid rings being softer than said ball member, and means to adjust said rigid rings toward each other and ing rings to seal said coupling and to move said rigid rings further toward each other and into contact with said ball for locking said coupling in adjusted position.

2. In a coupling for pipes, an internal ball member on one pipe and an external socket member on the other pipe and member; a pair of rigid rings and a pair of distortable packing rings, all of an internal diameter less than the external diameter of said ball memher, said packing rings being disposed between said rigid rings, and contacting said ball an opposite sides of a great circle, said rigid rings being softer than said ball member, and means toward said ball member to compress said packing rings to sealsaid coupling and to move said rigid rings further toward each other and into contact withsaid ballfor locking said coupling in adjusted position, and spacing means between said packing rings to limit the movement thereof toward each other.

3. In a coupling for pipes, an internal ball member on one pipe and'an external socket memher on the other pipe and surrounding said ballv member; a pair ofrigid rings and a pair of distortable packing rings, all of an internal diameter less than the external diameter of said ball member, said packing rings being disposed between said rigid rings, and contacting said ball on opposite sides ofa great circle, saidrigid rings being softer than said ball member, and means to adjust said rigid rings toward each other and toward saidballmembertocompresssaidpacking rings toward said ball member to compress said packsurrounding said ball I to adjust said rigid ringstowardeach other andadjust said sealing to seal said coupling and to move said rigid ring! further toward each other and into contact with said ball for locking said coupling in adjusted position, said ball member and socket member forming a lubricant chamber between said packing rings for maintaining lubricant under pressure.

4. In a couplingfor pipes, an internal bail member on one pipe and an external socket member on the other pipe and surrounding said ball memher; a pair of rigid rings and a pair of distortable packing rings, all of an internal diameter less than the external diameter of said ball member, said packingrings rigid rings, and contacting said ball on opposite sides of a great circle, said rigid rings being softer ber forming a lubricant chamber between said packing rings for maintaining lubricant under pressure.

5. In a coupling for pipes, an internal ball member on one pipe and an external socket member on the other pipe and surrounding said ball mem-' her; a' pair of rigid rings 0! an internal diameter less than the external diameter of said ball member, a pair of distortable packing rings on said ball member between said rigid rings and contacting said ball on opposite sides of a great circle, and means to adjust said rigid rings toward each other to first compress said packing rings and then into contact with said ball for locking said coupling in adjusted position.

6. In a couplingfor pipes, an member on one pipe and an external socket memsurrounding said ball member; a pair of rigid rings of' an internal diameter less than the external diameter of. said ball member, and on opposite sides of a great circle, said rings being softer than said ball memher, and means to adjust said rings toward each other and into contact with said ball for locking nal diameters less than the external diameter of, said ball member, and on opposite sides of a great circle, said means including an inner resilient and an outer relatively rigid element softer than said ball member, and actuating means to and locking means toward each other and into contact with said bell member to seal and lock said ball member in said socket member in adiusted position.

m'rou P LAURENT.

internal ballbeing disposedbetween said ball member; sealing and locking means of inter- 

